KISS celebrates a successful 2025 program
With Christmas rapidly approaching, the KISS Committee of 10 women led by Lee Renfree, look back on a year of achievements for 2025.
March 2025 saw the Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy (KISS) Program, a succcessful entry level program “for women - by women” of three years standing, formally included in the ORCV Training Pathways.
Concurrently, the KISS ALIVE Platform was established to provide ongoing connection, mentorship support and retention of KISS graduates within the KISS Community and keelboat Clubs and to build resources to support future KISS programs.
A Female Keelboat Sailing Events in Victoria - Calendar was established as a centralised calendar on the ORCV website to enable greater access for female focussed participation in events whether sailing /training /racing activities. The KISS Committee provide media support to grow all these events and strengthening relationships with Commodores and Club Captains at keelboat clubs, liasing for recruitment of boats, boat owners and recruiting more experienced women to become mentors for on-water training.
KISS ALIVE’s first support to club activities, provided promotion of the 60+years iconic Marlay Point Overnight Race (MPONR) run by Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) celebrating the addition of the inaugural MPONR All Female Crew division, auspiciously aligning with International Women's Day (IWD) annual and global celebration on 8 March. Three KISS committee women boat owners are already putting together their crews for 7-8 March 2026.
In May 2025, inspired by the KISS Program 2024 Safety Workshop, KISS committee members were invited to travel to GLYC to present a “Women on Water Gathering” Safety Workshop attracting a keen female audience. The vibe and community engagement generated then lead the club to running a successful inclusive Man Over Board workshop open for all comers.
On 11 March 2025, a joint ORCV/KISS/RBYC seminar celebrating IWD 2025 attracted almost 200 attendees for An Inspiring Evening with Melbourne to Osaka Female Duo on Fika. Annette Hesselmans and Sophie Snijders, as the first ever mother and daughter duo to compete in an Osaka race, engaged the audience with their preparation strategies for the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka (M2O) only days away from their departure on16 March.
In July 2025, the ORCV Women’s Helm, Navigator and Radio Operator race returned after a hiatus due to Covid, with a new course from RBYC to QCYC embraced by women sailors comprising 74% of boat crews and a100% female Race Management Team doing a sterling job. Now returned as an annual event, the next race is set down for 29-30 August 2026.
November 2025, KISS ALIVE hosted a Meet the KISS Community event at HBYC, connecting the KISS family of KISS Alumni, boat owners and mentors with new recruits for the KISS 2026 Training Program. Three incredible speakers, Kim Lawler (KISS 2023), Michelle Ruskin (2024) and Wayne Seaward (KISS 2024) shared their KISS experiences and their subsequent inspiring sailing journeys.
Looking to 2026, the KISS Committee’s planning is well underway for the fourth running of the 2026 KISS Women’s Training Program 15 April to 2 August. Full information and registration is available on the ORCV KISS Training page. With a long wait list and places capped at 50 women, we encourage female sailors to register now.
Fair winds, following seas and safety for all sailors in your chosen sailing activities over the festive season.
By Rosie Colahan
